Abstract: A device for differentially braking a towing cable in a tow-type ski lift comprises a drum for carrying the towing cable, spring biasing means associated with the drum for biasing the drum in a cable winding or retraction direction, and a turbine-type hydraulic brake means for differentially braking the withdrawal and retraction motions of the tow cable, said hydraulic braking means comprising a bladed fluid impeller means rotatable with said drum and including a first and second set of impeller blade members, and a pair of stator discs having two sets of stator blade members cooperatively arranged adjacent the two sets of impeller blade members, one set of cooperating impeller and stator blade members being smaller in a radial sense than the other set of impeller and stator blade members, and the two sets being inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the impeller such that the braking action that occurs during cable withdrawal is greater than during cable retraction.